Stefan Rinke – 2012

When one thinks of the American continent, the first thing that comes to mind is the image of the US superpower overshadowing its Latin American neighbors. It is easy to forget, however, that the USA was once the “Wild West,” while Central and South America were the crown jewels of Spain and Portugal, built upon cultures of the Old World. Stefan Rinke takes the entire continent into consideration in his history of the two regions’ conflicts and interconnections. The relations between these two parts of the Americas have played a decisive role in the history of both regions into contemporary times. Especially since the end of the nineteenth century, these relations have witnessed an enormous and rapid intensification, one that has tended to reinforce their polarity. This exciting and complex 500-year history is covered in a condensed, accessible account, focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.